Card holding means for card printing machine



3,280,738 CARD HOLDING MEANS FOR CARD PRINTING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1964 54 Oct. 25, 1 w. F. GOODRICH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVENTOR. M IILLMM F [.70 UDHZUH.

Oct. 25, 1966 w. F. GOODRICH 3,280,738

CARD HOLDING MEANS FOR CARD PRINTING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /p INVENTOR:

WILLIAM 500012100.

ATT)

United States Patent 3,280,738 CARD HOLDING MEANS FOR CARD PRINTING MACHINE William F. Goodrich, Adrian, Mich., assignor to The slgnpress Company, Adrian, Mich., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 362,309 10 Claims. (Cl. 101269) This invention relates to card printing machines and more especially to a machine or apparatus of this character particularly adapted for printing show cards, signs, posters and the like.

The invention embraces the provision of a card printing machine embodying a reciprocable carriage movable over a card, sheet stock or the like equipped with a roll arranged to press the card or stock in engagement with type in a manner to attain uniform type impression.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of abutment or stop means for insuring proper positioning of a card or sheet stock and an improved clamping means for securing a card or sheet stock in fixed position during movement of the carriage in performing a printing operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved card or sheet stock clamping arrangement which is actuated by a movable bar which bar provides a means for positioning a card or sheet stock to be printed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means associated with a card or sheet stock clamping means for readily locking the clamping means out of clamping position to facilitate proper positioning of a card or sheet to be printed.

Another object of the invention resides in improved means for maintaining type aligning bars in various positions to align type on a type supporting bed wherein the bars are engaged in suitable recesses whereby to avoid inadvertent dislodgement of type during a printing operation.

Another object of the invention resides in a card or sheet stock printing apparatus which is of sturdy construction and reliable in operation and which may be produced at comparatively low cost.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will pe apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a card printing machine or apparatus of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the card printing apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of FIGURE -1;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the card printing apparatus;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 77 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 1, and

Patented Oct. 25, 1966 FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary isometric view of a modified form of card clamping means of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and initially to FIG URES 1 through 4, the card printing apparatus or machine of the invention is inclusive of a generally rectang-ularlyshaped type supporting bed or platen 10 of planar character having a type supporting area 11 upon which type 12 may be positioned and held in printing position by means hereinafter described. The type supporting bed or platen 10 is of metal and in the embodiment illustrated, is supported upon a pair of channel-shaped support members 14 preferably arranged in parallel relation and disposed adjacent the longitudinal edge regions of the platen 10.

The members 14 are secured to the platen by means such as screws 16. The lower flanges 17 of the channel shaped members '14 may be faced with strips 18 of rubber or the like whereby the press may be mounted upon a table or other supporting surface without injury to the surface. The rubber strips "18 may be adhesively joined or secured to the flanges 17 by conventional adhesive means. The bed portion or platen 10 is provided at its longitudinal edge regions with portions 20 extending laterally beyond the members 14, the portions 20 being accurately. machined and dimensioned to form tracks or ways to accommodate and support a relatively movable carriage 24 which is reciprocable lengthwise of the bed plate 10.

The printing carriage 24 is of the general character shown in US. Patent 2,994,265 granted August 1, 1961. The carriage 24 comprises a frame structure having end plates or members 26 secured in spaced relation by one or more transversely extending rods 28. Journaled upon stub shafts 30 carried by each of the plates 26 are flanged rollers 32 arranged in pairs, one pair being mounted by each of the end plates. The rollers 3-2 are formed of nylon or other suitable material. The rollers engage the tracks 20 on the bed 10 whereby the carriage 24 is reciprocable lengthwise of the bed. The rollers are provided with flanges '34 serving as guide means to prevent lateral movement of the carriage.

Disposed beneath the stub shafts 30 are stub shafts 36 carried by the end plates 26. lournally supported upon the stub shafts 36 are rollers 38 disposed to engage the lower surfaces of the tracks 20, as shown in FIGURE 3, to prevent upward relative movement of the carriage 24 with respect to the bed .10. The rollers 38 may be fashioned of nylon or other suitable material. Through the provision of the sets of rollers 32 and 38 are carriage is readily movable lengthwise of the bed 10 and is prevented from lateral and vertical movements relative to the bed.

The frone end regions of the tracks or ways 20 are provided with abutment members or blocks 40 for limiting reciprocable movement of the carriage 24. The carriage 24 is equipped with a pressure roll 42 journally supported by means adaptable for adjusting the relative vertical position of the roll, the roll being adapted to engage a card or sheet stock to be printed and provide 'uniform pressure to obtain uniform type impressions or printing on the card or stock. The roll 42 is preferably faced with a thin rubber sleeve 46 snugly fitted over the roll or cylinder 42, the sleeve being of a length to span the type supporting area 11.

The pressure roll 42 is jou-rnally supported upon a relatively movable supplemental frame 48 mounted by the end plates 26. The supplemental frame 48 is inclusive of a pair of plates or members 50, the plates 50 being disposed respectively adjacent the plates 26.

The plates 50 are maintained in proper spaced relation by a bar 52 secured to each of the plates 50. Each of the frame plates 26 is provided with a bore to receive a pintle or journal pin 64 carried by each of the plates 50 whereby the supplemental frame 48 is mounted for pivotal movement about the axes of the journal pins 64.

' The pressure roll 42 is formed at its ends with tenons 54 journ aled in antifriction or ball bearings (not shown) carried in suitable bores provided in the plates 50 whereby the pressure roll 42 is freely rotatable. The plates 50 are joined by a rod or shaft 56, shown in FIGURE 3, on which is fitted a rubber sleeve 58, the sleeve and shaft providing handle means for pivotally swinging the supplemental frame about its axis to move the pressure roll 42 into and out of operative engagement with a card and to facilitate reciprocation of the carriage by manual means.

An eccentric member or cam 60 is mounted on the pin '64, the cam 60 being arranged in the path of pivotal movement of the supplemental frame 50 to limit the relative pivotal movement of the supplemental frame 50 in a direction to bring the pressure roll into proper engagement with a card or sheet. The pin 64 supports a crank arm 66 provided with a manipulating knob 68 and a spring-biased plunger 70 carried by the crank is adapted for cooperation with a series of openings 72 formed on an indexing plate 74 adjacent one of the end plates 26 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

By moving the crank arm 66 to a desired position and engaging the detent 70 in the proper opening in the series of openings 72, such movement of the crank arm 66 adjusting the position of the eccentric abutment or stop member 60 so that when the stop member is engaged by the supplemental frame member 50, the pressure roll 42 will be in proper position to engage a card or sheet 76 to be printed. As this arrangement forms no part of the present invention it has not been herein described in detail but is disclosed and described in Patent 2,994,265.

From FIGURE 2 it will be apparent that when the frame members 50 and the handle 58 are in the left-hand position, the pressure roll is elevated to an out-of-use position. When the arms 50 and the handle member 58 are swung to the extreme right-hand position as shown in FIGURE 2, the members 50 engage the eccentric abutment 60 to position the pressure roll 42 to exert the proper pressure on the card or stock to be printed during reciprocable movement of the carriage. Adjustment of the crank member 66 positions the eccentric abutment 60 to dispose the pressure roll 42 so as to accommodate the printing of cards or stock of various thicknesses.

The apparatus includes means for positioning and clamping cards or sheet stock in position to be printed, the means being readily actuable to admit the positioning and removal of the cards or stock. The card positioning means and the card clamping arrangement are illustrated in FIGURES 1, 3, and 6.

Disposed adjacent the type supporting area 11 of the bed plate at the forward end region of the plate is a transversely extending bar or member 80 fashioned of a rigid resinous material such as Koroseal, a rigid polyvinyl chloride, or metal or other suitable rigid material.

The bar 80 is provided with a longitudinal ledge portion 82 forming a support shelf and guide means for the end region of a card 76 to be printed. The bar 80 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 84 in the upper portion thereof which accommodates a bar or member 86 which is slidable vertically in the slot 84 for actuating the card clamping means. Resilient or flexible means are provided for clamping the card or sheet stock in position to be printed. Disposed lengthwise of and adjacent the bar 80 is a plurality of flexible spring-like members 88 arranged in spaced relation along the bar as particularly shown in FIGURE 1.

Each of the resilient or flexible members 88 is provided with portions 90 and 92 contiguous with a rear portion and a lower portion of the bar 80 as particularly shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The bar 80 is fashioned with a sec- 0nd longitudinally extending slot 94 and each of the resilient card clamping members 88 is provided with an upwardly extending portion 96 extending into the slot 94 as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

The bar is provided with threaded openings spaced lengthwise of the bar to receive securing screws 100 which extend through openings in the bed plate or platen 10 for fixedly securing the bar 80 to the platen in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6.

As the portions 92 of the flexible card-clamping members are disposed between the platen 10 and the bar 80, the screws 100 also secure the clamping members in proper position.

The card-clamping members are shaped and inherently stressed or biased to urge the finger portions 89 in a downward direction to normally engage a card to be printed. Means is provided for elevating the card clamping portions of the members 88 to effect insertion and removal of a card. As shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, L-shaped brackets 102 are mounted beneath the bed or platen 10 in transversely spaced relation, the brackets being secured to the platen by screws 100.

The depending portions of the brackets 102 are bored to accommodate tenons 104 formed on the ends of the shaft or member 106. Mounted on the shaft 106 are transversely spaced members 108 secured to the shaft 106 by screws 110, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The members 108 extend forwardly of the bed 10 and are secured to a crossmember or transversely extending member 112 by screws 114. The member 112 provides .a manipulating means for manually effecting pivotal movement of the shaft 106 by finger pressure exerted downwardly upon the member 112.

Portions 109 of members 108 extend in a right-hand direction from the shaft 106, as viewed in FIGURE 5. Disposed transversely of the bed 10 and in substantial parallel relation with the shaft 106 is a bar or member 116. The member 116 is provided with diametrically arranged bores extending partially through the shaft 116 to ac commodate pins or plungers 118, shown in FIGURE 5. Mounted in registering openings formed in the bed 10 and the bar 80 are two sleeves 120 in which the pins 118 are disposed for slidable movement. As shown in FIG- URE 5, the upper ends of the pins 118 abut the lower edge of the vertically movable bar 86.

Means is provided for holding or locking the card clamping means in nonclamping position. A member or bracket 119 is secured to the lower surface of the bed 10 by screws 120. Bracket 119 is fashioned with a depending portion 121, shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, terminating in an edge surface 122 adjacent one of the members 108. The screws and 114 form pivot points for the members 10 8 and the manipulating bar 112 respectively in a parallelogrammatic relation. To lock the clamping fingers 88 in nonclamping position as shown in FIGURE 5, the operator, holding the manipulating bar 112 in depressed position, moves the bar laterally to the position shown in broken lines in FIGURE 4, moving one of the members 18 beneath the abutment edge 122 on the bracket 119, thus retaining the fingers 88 in elevated position. The locking means enables the operator to use both hands in positioning a card to be printed. To release the clamping means, the operator moves the bar 112 and members 108 .to the full line position shown in FIG- URE 4.

The operations of clamping and releasing a card 76 will be apparent from FIGURE 5. The card clamping means and the actuating means therefor are illustrated in card releasing position in FIGURE 5. These components are moved to this position by finger pressure exerted downwardly upon the manipulating bar 112. The manipulating bar 112 and the members 108 are normally biased to a card clamping position shown in broken lines in FIGURE 5 by downward pressure of the spring members 88. In this position the bar 86, pins or plungers 118 and the member 116 are in their lowermost positions, and the portions 89 of the resilient spring fingers 88 are in resilient clamping engagement with the edge region of a card 76.

Through this arrangement, cards to be printed may be quickly inserted beneath the spring fingers 89 by simply exerting downward pressure upon the manipulating memher 112 and, upon release of pressure on member 112, the spring fingers automatically engage and clamp the card 76. To release a card, finger pressure is exerted downwardly upon the member 112 to elevate the spring finger portions 89.

'It will be noted from FIGURE 5, that the bar 86 forms an abutment or positioning means for the card 76 whereby t-he card may be properly positioned for a printing operation. Thus successive cards to be printed are accurately positioned and the printing will therefore appear on identical areas of successive cards. The arrangement of the bars 108 connected with the rotatable shaft 106 provides a lever arrangement, the fulcrum of which is the axis of the shaft 106 for manipulating the card gripping fingers 88.

The arrangement of the invention includes novel means for positioning or aligning printing type on the type supporting area of the bed or platen 10. Mounted on the rear end region of the platen 10 is a transversely extending bar or member 124 secured to the bed 10 by means of dowel pins 126, shown in FIGURE 7. As shown in FIGURE 1, the bar 124 is fashioned with a plurality of spaced slots r recesses 128.

The bar 80, which provides mounting means for the card clamping members 88, is provided with slots or recesses 130, as shown in FIGURES 3, and 6. The slots 128 in the bar 124 and the slots 130 in the bar 80 are arranged with the same transverse spacing to accommodate type aligning means in the form of rectilinear bars 134, one of the type aligning bars being shown in FIG- URES l and 2. The type aligning bars 134 are preferably of nonmagnetic material such as brass or aluminum and are of a length and thickness whereby the end regions of the bar are snugly, yet slidably received in opposed slots in the bars 80 and 124.

As shown in FIGURE 9', each printing type 12 is fashioned with an open ended recess or slot 135 of a width to removably, yet snugly fit over .a bar 134 in the manner shown in FIGURE 9. The type 12 are preferably formed of metal, wood or other material which is nonmagnetic. Type may be assembled on a bar 34 in the manner shown in FIGURE 1 with the type aligning bar 134 positioned in opposed slots in the bar 80 and 124. Any number of type aligning bars 134 may be employed, spaced as desired, to mount or position types 12 as may be required for printing cards or sheet stock. The bed or platen 10 is of ferrous metal such as iron or steel plate having magnetic properties.

Magnetic means may be employed for holding the type in assembled relation on an alignment bar 134. In the embodiment illustrated, the magnetic means is illustrated at 140 in FIGURES 1, 2 and 8.

The magnetic means 140 comp-rises a permanently mag netized body 142 embraced by metal members 144. Each of the magnetic type holding means 140 is provided with a recess of a width and depth to be received on a type aligning bar 134, as shown in FIGURE 8.

The type supporting surface area 11 of the bed plate or platen 10 is preferably treated in the following manner: The surface of the bed plate is sandblasted or etched so as to render it roughened, the roughened surface tending to hold the type against sliding movement. A type guiding or aligning pattern 150 comprising longitudinal and transverse lines, shown in FIGURE 1, and spaced equal distances apart are applied to the sandblasted or etched surface by a conventional silk-screen process employing an epoxy ink or lacquer. It is found that an epoxy ink penetrates the sandblasted surface providing a pattern having a long life and not readily obliterated by repeated sliding of type on the surface.

The series of steps in preparing the apparatus for printing and for carrying on printing operations is as follows:

The operator first disposes the desired number of type aligning bars 134 in opposed pairs of slots in the bars and 124, depending upon the numb-or of lines of type to be used. Type 12 are then disposed on the type aligning bars, the recesses in the type accommodating the bars.

After a group of type is assembled on a bar, magnetic members are placed at each end of a group of type engaging the end type in the manner shown in FIGURE 1 to secure the type in position.

The operator then adjusts the crank 66 shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2 to adjust the eccentric 60 to limit the movement of the impression roller 42 to accommodate cards or sheet stock of desired thickness to be printed. The operator engages the detent member 70- in the proper opening 72 to maintain the same adjustment or position for the pressure roll during printing of successive cards of the same thickness. The operator then inks the type 12 by a conventional inking roller (not shown) and depresses the member 112, rocking the brackets or members 108 in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 106 to elevate the pins or plungers 118 and the bar 86.

This movement elevates the spring members 88 and the operator positions a card 76 beneath the fingers 89 with the edge of the card abutting the bar 86 in the manner shown in FIGURE 5. The operator then releases finger pressure on the member 112 and the inherent fiexure or stress in the members 88 causes the finger portions 89 to grip the edge of the card 76 and hold the card during the printing operation. The operator then swings the handle 58 from the full line position shown in FIGURE 2 to the broken line position which operation moves the impression roller 42 in position to engage the card 76.

The operator then moves the carriage in a right-hand direction as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2 to perform a printing operation. After a printing operation is completed, the operator depresses the member 112, elevating the bar 86 and permitting removal of the printed card 76 and the insertion of an unprinted card beneath the spring fingers 89. From the foregoing it will be seen that the cards to be printed are securely held in proper position by simple yet effective means and the type aligning and retaining means effectively maintain the type in proper position during successive printing operations.

FIGURE 10 illustrates a modified form of card clamping means. In the arrangement shown in FIGURE 10, a member adapted to extend coincident with the bar 80 is provided with a flange 157 which fits into the lengthwise recess 94 of the bar 80. The member 55 is provided with a plurality of resilient fingers 158 defined or spaced by slots 160, the forward extremities 162 of the fingers 158 being adapted to engage a card to be printed. In this form, all of the resilient fingers 15 8 are integrally formed with the member 155, as shown in FIGURE 10. The bar 86 and the means for elevating the bar are adapted to flex the members 158 upwardly in the same manner that the resilient members 88 are elevated to remove a printed card and affix an unprinted card in proper position for printing.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

I claim:

1. In a card printing apparatus, in combination, a type supporting bed, said bed being provided with track means arranged to support a printing carriage for movement over the type supporting bed, a member mounted by the type supporting bed, said member being arranged to be engaged by a card to be printed, means disposed adjacent the member including flexible portions normally biased in a direction to engage a card to be printed, said member having a longitudinal slot therein defined by parallel walls, means for controlling the position of the flexible portions comprising a bar of substantially rectangular cross section in said slot engageable with said flexible portions and arranged for relative slidable movement in said slot, and means for effecting the slidable movement of the bar in said slot to move said flexible portions.

2. In a card printing apparatus, in combination, a body having a type supporting area, said body being arranged to support a printing carriage for movement over the type supporting area, a member mounted by said body adjacent the type supporting area and extending transversely of the body said member having a ledge arranged to be engaged by a card to be printed, oard clamping means disposed adjacent the bar, said card clamping means including flexible fingers adjacent the ledge portion and normally biased in a direction to engage a card to be printed, said member having a longitudinal slot the-rein defined by parallel walls, a bar of substantially rectangular cross section slidable in said slot and engageable with the flexible finger-s for moving the flexible fingers out of card clamping position, means for effecting slidable movement of the bar, said bar providing abutment means arranged to be engaged by a card for positioning the card to be printed.

3. In a card printing apparatus, in combination, a type supporting bed, said bed being arranged to support a printing carriage for movement over a type supporting area of the bed, a bar mounted by the bed adjacent the type supporting area and extending across the bed, card clamping means disposed adjacent the bar, said card clamping means including flexible means normally biased in a direction to engage a card to be printed, said bar having a longitudinal slot therein, an element slidable in said slot and engageable with the flexible portions, plunger means arranged for engagement with said bar, and pivotally supported means engageable with the plunger means for effecting slidable movement of said element.

4. In a card printing apparatus, in combination, a member having a type supporting area, said member being arranged to support a printing carriage for movement longitudinally of the type supporting area, a bar secured to the member disposed adjacent the type supporting area and extending transversely of the member, flexible means disposed adjacent the bar and normally biased in a direction to engage a card to be printed, said bar having a longitudinal slot therein, an element slidable in said slot and engageable with the flexible means, means for actuating said slidable element including a lever construction, a fulcrum for said lever construction mounted by the base member, and motion transmitting means between said lever construction and said element for transmitting movement of said levervconstruction to said element.

5. In a card printing apparatus, in combination, a member having a type supporting area, said member being provided with track means arranged to support a printing carriage for movement longitudinally of the type supporting area, a bar secured to the member disposed adjacent the type supporting area and extending transversely of the member, said bar having a ledge arranged to be engaged by a card to be printed, card clamping means disposed adjacent the bar, said card clamping means including flexible portions adjacent the ledge and normally biased in a direction to engage a card to be printed, said bar having a longitudinal slot therein, an element slidable in said slot and engageable with the flexible portions for actuating the flexible portions out of card clamping position, means for actuating said slidable element including a lever construction, bracket means mounted by said member, a fulcrum for said lever construction supported by said bracket means, and motion transmitting means between said lever construction and said element for transmitting movement of said lever construction to said element.

6. In a card printing apparatus, in combination, a bed having a type supporting area, said bed being provided with track means arranged to support a printing carriage for movement longitudinally of the type supporting area, a first bar secured to the member disposed adjacent the type supporting area and extending transversely of the member, said bar having a ledge arranged to be engaged by a card to be printed, card clamping means disposed adjacent the bar, said card clamping means having flexible portions adjacent the ledge portion and normally biased in a direction to engage a card to be printed, said bar having a longitudinal slot therein defined by parallel walls, an elongated element of substantially rectangular cross section slidable in said slot and engageable with the flexible portions for actuating the flexible portions out of card clamping position, means for actuating said slidable element, a second bar mounted on the type supporting bed at a region spaced from the first bar, said bars being of nonmagnetic material, each of said bars having a plurality of slots in facing relation, elongated type aligning members of nonmagnetic material, the end regions of said members being adapted to be received in slots in each of said first and second members, and magnetic means adapted to engage and retain type in position on the typesupporting area.

7. In a card printing apparatus, in combination, a member having a type supporting area, said member being arranged to support a printing carriage for movement over the type supporting area, a bar mounted by the member adjacent the type supporting area and extending transversely of themember, card clamping means disposed adjacent the bar, said card clamping means having flexible portions normally biased in a direction to engage a card to be printed, said bar having a longitudinal slot therein, an element slidable in said slot and engageable with the flexible portions, said bar having openings therein, plungers in said openings, and lever means enengageable with the plungers for effecting slidable movement of said element.

8. In a card printing apparatus, in combination, a bed having a type supporting area, said member being arranged to support a printing carriage for movement longitudinally of the type supporting area, a bar secured to the beddisposed adjacent the type supporting area and extending transversely of the bed, flexible fingers disposed adjacent the bar and normally biased in a direction to engage a card to be printed, an element engageable with the flexible means for moving the flexible means away from card engaging position, actuating means for said element including a lever member an abutment mounted by said bed, said lever member being mounted for pivotal movement about a first axis in a direction to move the flexible means away from card-engaging position, said lever member being mounted for pivotal movement about a second axis normal to the first axis to engage the lever member with the abutment for retaining the flexible means out of card-engaging position.

9. In a card printing apparatus, in combination, a bed having a type supporting area, said member being provided with track means arranged to support a printing carriage for movement longitudinally of the type supporting area, a bar secured to the bed disposed adjacent the type supporting area and extending transversely of the bed, card clamping means disposed adjacent the bar, said card clamping means having flexible portions normally biased in a direction to engage a card to be printed,

means for actuating the flexible portions into and out of card clamping position including a rod supported for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, a pair of spaced arms pivotally mounted on said rod for movement about axes normal to the axis of said rod, a manipulating member pivotally connected with said arms, an

abutment mounted by said bed, one of said arms being engageable with said abutment for retaining the cardclamping flexible portions away from card-clamping position.

10. In a card printing apparatus, in combination, a type supporting bed, said bed being arranged to support a printing carriage for movement relative to the type Supporting bed, an elongated member mounted by the type supporting bed and extending transversely thereof, said member being arranged to be engaged by a card to be printed, flexible means disposed adjacent the member normally biased in a direction to engage a card to be printed, said elongated member having a lengthwise disposed planar guide surface, means for controlling the position of the flexible means comprising a bar having a planar surface contiguous with and engaging the guide surface on said member, said bar disposed for slidable movement along said guide surface relative to said member for engagement with the flexible means, and means for effecting slidable movement of the bar relative to the member.

References Cited by the Examiner ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

H. P. EWELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A CARD PRINTING APPARATUS, IN COMBINATION, A TYPE SUPPORTING BED, SAID BED BEING PROVIDED WITH TRACK MEANS ARRANGED TO SUPPORT, A PRINTING CARRIAGE FOR MOVEMENT OVER THE TYPE SUPPORTING BED, A MEMBER MOUNTED BY THE TYPE SUPPORTING BED, SAID MEMBER BEING ARRANGED TO BE ENGAGED BY A CARD TO BE PRINTED, MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE MEMBER INCLUDING FLEXIBLE PORTIONS NORMALLY BIASED IN A DIRECTION TO ENGAGE A CARD TO BE PRINTED, SAID MEMBER HAVING A LONGITUDINAL SLOT THEREIN DEFINED BY PARALLEL WALLS, MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE POSITION OF THE FLEXIBLE PORTIONS COMPRISING A BAR OF SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION IN SAID SLOT ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FLEXIBLE PORTIONS AND ARRANGED FOR RELATIVE SLIDABLE MOVEMENT IN SAID SLOT, AND MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE SLIDABLE MOVEMENT OF THE BAR IN SAID SLOT TO MOVE SAID FLEXIBLE PORTIONS. 